East Haven Firefighter Blood Drive Saturday: In Summer, Blood Shortages As Donations Down, Need Up,

EAST HAVEN, CT — Summer can be a difficult time for the blood supply.

During the school year, high schools and colleges help collect a lot of blood through donation drives, roughly 20 percent of all blood donations, says the Association for Blood Donor Professionals. So, when school is out for the summer, those donations drop.

And many regular donors may be taking vacations or are busy with summer activities, so fewer people give blood.

At the same time, hospitals often need more blood during the summer because there are more serious accidents, car crashes, and outdoor injuries.

This means that while fewer people are donating, more patients may need lifesaving blood.

The Red Cross recently announced that an "alarming drop in scheduled donations puts national blood supply under pressure."

Here's your chance to make a difference.

East Haven Firefighters Local 1205 is holding its third annual blood drive Saturday. And there's "still time to sign up and help save a life."

The blood drive is set for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at East Haven Fire Station #3, 1420 North High St.

Click here to register.